The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

“Every man who is not helping to bring about a better state of affairs for the future is helping to perpetuate the present misery, and is therefore the enemy of his own children. There is no such thing as being neutral: we must either help or hinder.””

— Robert Tressell

“No one had any right to condemn him for this, because all who live under the present system practise selfishness, more or less. We must be selfish: the System demands it. We must be selfish or we shall be hungry and ragged and finally die in the gutter. The more selfish we are the better off we shall be. In the 'Battle of Life' only the selfish and cunning are able to survive: all others are beaten down and trampled under foot. No one can justly be blamed for acting selfishly--it is a matter of self-preservation--we must either injure or be injured. It is the system that deserves to be blamed. What those who wish to perpetuate the system deserve is another question.””

— Robert Tressell

“The theories that drunkenness, laziness or inefficiency are the causes of poverty are so many devices invented and fostered by those who are selfishly interested in maintaining the present states of affairs, for the purpose of preventing us from discovering the real causes of our present condition.””

— Robert Tressell

“It's not possible for anyone to become rich without cheating other people.””

— Robert Tressell

“The Golden Light that will be diffused throughout all the happy world from the rays of the risen sun of Socialism.””

— Robert Tressell

“He had never expected or wished to be allowed to enjoy such things; he had always been of opinion that they were never intended for the likes of him. He called himself a Conservative and was very patriotic.””

— Robert Tressell

“Like most other`Christians', he believed in taking thought for the morrow, what heshould eat and drink and wherewithal he was to be clothed. He thoughtit wise to layup for himself as much treasure upon earth as possible.The fact that Jesus said that His disciples were not to do these thingsmade no more difference to Slyme's conduct than it does to the conductof any other `Christian'. They are all agreed that when Jesus saidthis He meant something else: and all the other inconvenient thingsthat Jesus said are disposed of in the same way. For instance, these`disciples' assure us that when Jesus said, `Resist not evil', `If aman smite thee upon he right cheek turn unto him also the left', Hereally meant 'Turn on to him a Maxim gun; disembowel him with abayonet or batter in his skull with the butt end of a rifle!' When Hesaid, `If one take thy coat, give him thy cloak also,' the`Christians' say that what He really meant was: `If one take thy coat,give him six months' hard labour. A few of the followers of Jesusadmit that He really did mean just what He said, but they say that theworld would never be able to go on if they followed out His teachings!That is true. It is probably the effect that Jesus intended Histeachings to produce. It is altogether improbable that He wished theworld to continue along its present lines. But, if these pretendedfollowers really think - as they say that they do - that the teachingsof Jesus are ridiculous and impracticable, why continue thehypocritical farce of calling themselves `Christians' when they don'treally believe in or follow Him at all?””

— Robert Tressell

“I don't believe in the Society,' observed Crass. 'I can't see as it's right that a inferior man should 'ave the same wages as me.””

— Robert Tressell

“It may be true that if any one of the hands”

— Robert Tressell